Trump Revokes Secret Service Protection for Kamala Harris, His Opponent in the Last Election
- President Donald Trump has revoked extended Secret Service protection for Kamala Harris, just ahead of her national book tour
- The move reverses a directive quietly signed by Joe Biden and has sparked criticism from California leaders
- Harris will now lose federal security support despite past threats and her historic role as Vice President
President Donald Trump has cancelled extended Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, a move confirmed by a senior White House official and detailed in a memo seen by the BBC.
The decision comes just days before Harris is set to begin a national book tour promoting her memoir, 107 Days, which chronicles her brief and ultimately unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign.
Source: Facebook
Secret service protection for Kamala Harris cancelled
Under a 2008 law passed by the US Congress, former vice presidents are entitled to six months of Secret Service protection after leaving office. Harris, who departed the White House in January following the end of Joe Biden’s administration, had her security detail quietly extended for an additional year by a directive signed by Biden before his departure.
However, a letter dated 28 August and obtained by the BBC instructed the Secret Service to “discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorised by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law” starting 1 September. The memo, signed by Trump, effectively ends Harris’ extended protection.
Sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that a recent threat assessment found no compelling reason to continue Harris’ detail beyond the legally mandated period. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, had his own protection terminated on 1 July.
Political fallout and security concerns
The decision has sparked backlash from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both of whom expressed concern over Harris’ safety. Bass, speaking to CNN, said:
“This is another act of revenge following a lost list of political retaliation in the form of firings, the revoking of security clearances and more.”
She added that the move places Harris in danger and pledged to ensure her safety in Los Angeles.
The revocation means Harris will lose agents assigned to protect her and her property in Los Angeles, as well as access to proactive threat intelligence. Experts estimate that privately funding similar protection could cost millions of dollars annually.
Broader pattern of revoked protections
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has rescinded Secret Service protections for several individuals.
Harris, the first woman and first person of colour to serve as Vice President, faced multiple security threats during her tenure. In August 2024, a Virginia man was charged with making online threats to kill, kidnap, or injure Harris and former President Barack Obama.
In a separate 2021 incident, a Florida woman pleaded guilty to sending videos to her imprisoned husband in which she brandished weapons and suggested a “hit” could be carried out within 50 days.
Source: Getty Images
Trump revokes legal status for 500,000 immigrants
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States has announced the termination of legal status for over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks.
The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s promise to execute the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history, primarily targeting Latin American nations.
The order affects approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole scheme launched by former President Joe Biden in October 2022 and expanded in January 2023.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
